Prime Minister Bizen

Chapter 220 Killing the Flower Thief!Grab the exploits!

On October 12, the 1584th year of Tensho (5), after three days of high-intensity marching, the Ukita Hide family finally returned to Kawanoe Castle with the Ukita Legion.

Although Xiujia and Huafang Zhengxing had already arranged military stations along the way in advance to provide the best service for the soldiers who turned around, at this moment, there were only more than 1 people who could really follow Xiujia's pace and accompanied them to Chuanzhijiang.

The same is true of Hideyoshi’s Great Turn to the West in history. Although he spent 7 days on the road, he made repairs when the army arrived at Himeji Castle and Amagasaki Castle. It is to give other daimyos time to react.

Hideka has actually experienced this U-turn. Even on a horse, Hideka still hurried to get tired. Hashiba Hideyoshi's 5 troops, only [-] people followed Hideyoshi back to Himeji Castle in the first wave. people.Even counting those who felt it one after another on the first day, the number of people is only in the tens of thousands.

This is impossible. Due to the lack of productivity, soldiers in the Warring States Period did not receive sufficient protein and calorie supplements. It was very difficult for them to travel long distances.

Historically, it took Hideyoshi one day and one night to return from Ogaki Castle to Jianyue City. When the army actually reached Jianyue, there were only half of the soldiers and horses.Now more than half of the people in Yuxi's family just keep up with the queue, which is already a commendable thing.

But even though the Xiu family’s main force has not been lost at this moment, there are shortages in every reserve team. In addition, the soldiers’ long-distance raids have seriously exhausted their physical strength. preparation.

While the Xiu family was making preparations for Chuanzhijiang, they were paying close attention to the news of Baidi City.As the Hide family had expected, Nagamune's Motokin did send troops from Tosa in a vain attempt to attack the Asano Army that besieged Shiroji Castle.

The one who brought the news was Oka Jiali who came out of Zhongxi City and went west to find Xiu's family. "Your Highness, why are you here? I thought I was going to Iyo to see you."

Okakari was surprised that Xiujia appeared in Chuanzhijiang City, but at the same time he took a reassurance. Since Xiujia is nearby, it means that Zhongxi City is Wuyu, and his father is Wuyu.

So he told the Xiu family all the information he knew.In his dictation, Asano Nagamasa "seeked the enemy ahead" and made arrangements in advance. After Okali won the attack on Nakaishi Castle, he did not let them immediately withdraw to Baiji Castle to help attack the city, but let them stay in Nakaishi Castle Monitoring Tosa, this strategy enabled Asano Nagamasa to successfully investigate the movements of the Nagasogabu Yuanqin, and intercepted his main force in the Nakanishi City Basin.

Listening to the information brought by Okagari, Hideka couldn't believe his ears. When did Nagamasa Asano become stronger? Does he have such a strategic vision?
The Xiu family's understanding of him has always been on the top of being an expert in internal affairs and taking advantage of his younger sister Ningning. The reason why he brought Asano Nagamasa on this expedition was also to strengthen the relationship between himself and Ningning. Who would have thought Discovered a general ah!

Hideka is at ease about Oka Lisheng's commanding ability. As a veteran on the battlefield, Naoka has accompanied Zhijia in the north and south during his era, and he has served as the general of the Rangers many times, which proves that Zhijia recognizes his ability.

In addition, after the Xiu family succeeded to the throne, he accompanied the Xiu family many times as the generation of the formation, and he was the elder who witnessed the establishment of Yuxi's military system.

Even though he is usually impulsive in dealing with people, he is relatively stable on the battlefield. With him guarding the Midwest City, even without Asano Nagamasa's support, Hideka is confident that he can delay his arrival.

The Xiu family let go of their hearts, and while letting the soldiers rest, they ordered people to gather them together as soon as possible, especially the artillery battalion that was left behind.

As one of the standing stocks, their lagging behind is entirely due to the inconvenient transportation of their equipment. When the old-fashioned bronze artillery was cast, there were no extended arms on both sides of the barrel, because they did not expect to put the artillery Mounted on wooden wheels for easy movement.

The roads in Dongyiyo have not been prepared and cannot be transported by carts.Helpless, the artillery of the artillery battalion can only be carried by manpower, like carrying a bumper, and a group of 6 people alternately carry the artillery forward, and its speed will inevitably be delayed.

But in the plan that Xiujia took over to fight head-on with Chang Zongga's family, the artillery was his trump card, so he went twice a day to urge the progress of the artillery battalion.

The whole army rested at the Chuanzhi River for a day, and set off again the next day to move to Jingmudao. At this time, Xiujia's West Route Army had already caught up with thousands of people compared to yesterday, and the total number exceeded 2.

Judging from the front-line intelligence, Asano Nagamasa's "capable command" successfully slowed down the momentum of the Chosogabu Yuanqin. The Changzonggabu Yuanqin fought for a day under the Zhongxi City yesterday, but returned in vain.

This is exactly what the Xiu family wanted. We don't need to make great achievements on the front line. We have an absolute advantage in strength. As long as the front line is not chaotic, we will be able to use our advantages to suppress the elders of Changzong and our tribe when we arrive.

Even if Nagamune chose not to fight and retreat, it doesn’t matter. According to the original plan, Asano Nagamasa will be responsible for Awa’s strategy, and he will be responsible for sticking to Moto, directly rushing into Tosa from the middle road, and attacking Okatoyo Castle in advance. siege.

When the city was besieged, the seemingly solid Gangfeng city wall was nothing more than a hermit crab shrunk in front of the artillery, and the toughest shell could be eaten by Xiujia.

Seeing that the situation on the front line tended to be consistent with what he expected, Xiujia deliberately slowed down his pace, waiting as much as possible for the follow-up troops and his ace artillery battalion. Make trims.

However, Hideka's slow march did not mean that he could not catch up with the front line. By the third day (Asano Nagamasa's attack day), Hideka had basically assembled the main force and led 2 people with artillery to the base of Baidi Castle.

The 2000 Danmas who were in charge of the Raiders of Shiraji Castle were led by Hidemasa Koide. This person can be regarded as an old man under Hideyoshi. His wife is the sister-in-law of Naka, the mother of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. My uncle is currently receiving 2 stone from Tanba Kamei.

If there is no Hideo's intervention, he should have received 3 shi of Izumi Manabe from the back of Jianyue. What kind of place is this? A daimyo with 10 shi is even more. It can be said that his strength is not less than the 3 shi on the surface.

Before Hideyoshi died, his knowledge and practice increased to 5 shi, and the Hideyoshi family entrusted their son Hideyoshi to him.Who would have thought that before Hideyoshi's body was buried, he hooked up with Tokugawa Ieyasu. Even though he was Toyotomi's vassal, he himself was the Western Army, but the main force in the territory was the master who let his son take the Eastern Army to join the war~
It can be said that when the members of Zi Xiaode Xiuzheng all chose to turn to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Toyotomi family was already rotten from the bones.Really echoed the old saying "Thinking that the palace is full of virtuous people, it turns out they are all traitors."

receive~
No matter how unbearable he was after Koide Hidemasa, at this time he was indeed one of Hashiba Hideyoshi's most trusted people.

I don't know if you have noticed, but the composition of Hideyoshi's legion, except Ukita's capable people, is all people around Hideyoshi, such as Asano Nagamasa, Fukushima Masanori, Koide Hidemasa, Sengoku Hidehisa and others.

In addition, Ishida Mitsunari must be placed on the top to monitor, which shows how deeply Hideyoshi guards against Hideka.

The arrival of the West Route Legion directly filled the valley under Baidicheng. Xiujia intends to pull out the fulcrum of Baidicheng first, and then reconcile with Asano Nagamasa. Who would have thought that before the formation was launched, he could vaguely hear the other side of the valley? The sound of shouting and killing and the roar of iron cannons came from one side.

Xiujia didn't take it seriously at all, after all, the sound of soldiers and horses on the battlefield was the most common, but whoever wanted to show Xiuzheng was surprised by this situation.

"What's the situation, is there a battle at Asano-den?" Koide Hidemasa was accompanying the Hide family to set up an army formation at the moment, when he suddenly heard a sound in the distance, he said to himself.

This seemingly ordinary question and answer was caught by Xiujia, who asked Hidemasa Koide, "Did you not engage in battle in the past few days?"

"Yesterday there seemed to be a battle, but it was not as intense as today. According to the news from Zhongxi City last night, the main force of Changzong and my family seemed to be trying to pull out the city, but there was no battle with Master Asano. The sound of fighting in Zhongxi City We can't hear it either. I don't know what happened today, the battle is so fierce that we can hear it here."

Unlike Hidemasa Koide, who was calm and breezy, Hideka was keenly aware of the unusualness, so he called for Tsunao Osafune, and asked him to take the team members of Hatakemoto to go to the Midwest City to investigate in person, and at the same time asked people to stop Set up the siege base and be ready to support Asano Nagamasa at any time.

About half an hour later, Osafune Tsuna came flying straight, panting and reported to Xiujiahui, "Master Asano. Master Asano is fighting with Nagamune's family. The place the size of a palm is full of people. I can’t tell which side is ours and which side is the person on the opposite side.”

Hideo slapped his thigh and "broken." Why couldn't Nagamasa Asano wait for him?I clearly sent him a message to let him continue to contain the person waiting for me to arrive, so why are you fighting the opponent now?

Fortunately, the numbers on both sides are equal, and with the help of Okatoshi Katsura from Nakanishi Castle, Asano Nagamasa should not be at a disadvantage, but the time is still very tight, Hideka started the battle directly from the Mazar, and told everyone, "The whole army will attack, Head towards Midwest City at full speed."

"With Qinglong and Suzaku as the vanguard, the main formation will move forward to the second formation, and the order of the other formations will remain the same, advancing alternately towards the Midwest City."

After finishing speaking, he took the lead first, left from the main formation, mounted his horses and headed towards Zhongxi City with his attendants.

There is a canyon in front of Baidi City, and it is impossible for the Ukita Army to spread out. The Xiu family's troops are spread out in the canyon like a long snake formation. Qinglong Bei and Suzaku Bei are stationed beside the Yoshino River. They are also the first to feel that the other side has opened up. A reserve team at war.

Although they couldn't see the situation on the front line, they could feel the fierce battle in Zhongxi City. Originally, the two of them didn't plan to intervene. , Qiu Shangjiu's family couldn't hold back first.

"The friendly army is in trouble, we can't just sit and wait for death. The advantage of Changzong and our relatives is not obvious at the moment, and it is time for us to go out."

"However, His Highness's order has not yet arrived." After all, this is the last command of Qinglongbei from Qiu Shangjiu's family, so he cherishes it very much, and is eager to show himself, not as cautious as the Takayama Clan. As for common things, I believe Asanoden will handle them well."

The words of the Takayama Clan temporarily suppressed the restless heart of Qiu Shangjiu's family, but as time went by, more and more routs unexpectedly appeared, and there were even organized routs. A voice sprang up from the horse's seat, "It can't be done, we must send troops."

It just so happened that the Xiu family arrived at this time, and the Xiu family who was riding a horse condescendingly saw the rout on the other side, and his heart skipped a beat, "The two sides have the same number of people, why did they collapse so quickly?"

But there is not much time left for Hideo to think at this moment. Hideo who was riding on the horse saw Akigami Hisaya coming out of the curtain, and immediately ordered to him, "Yizakaya, take Qinglongbei to cross the river and support Asano Hall. Where is the Gaoshan Clan?"

"I'm here, Your Highness." Hearing Xiujia's voice, Gao Shan Clan came out from the curtain, saluted Xiujia, and waited for Xiujia's instructions.

Xiujia pointed to one of his Wusan Tong patterns and said, "Hold the flag of Wusan Tong pattern and go to the opposite bank to gather the rout soldiers. Those who cross the Tong pattern will be killed regardless of their ranks! Block the rout soldiers back."

"What should I do if I meet a daimyo?" The Xiu family was about to turn around and leave to go to another place to set up, but the Gaoshan Clan called to stop the Xiu family and asked.

"Is my order not clear? Anyone who crosses the Tongwen, regardless of their rank or status, will be killed! If there is a problem, I will take care of it." After saying that, he took the attendant team and the Banners to turn south, preparing to be on the other side of Zhongxi City The formation at the foot of Ruoshan.

The wide and deep Yoshino River is not easy to cross the river, but here is the traffic throat connecting the three countries of Awa, Sanuki, Iyo, and Tosa. The ancients built three pontoon bridges here. Under the command of the two captains, the crossing began from the west bank of the Yoshino River. Along the way, those who wanted to cross the river from the east bank were all pushed into the river and washed away with the current.

At this critical time, where will I talk about humanity and integrity with you?Everything serves the righteousness of the military and the country. After crossing the river bank, Takayama Clan and Akigami Hisaka ordered the flag-holders to hold high the two flags with the five-three-pattern pattern, and shouted loudly in front of the rout.
"All the soldiers turn around and kill the thieves, and those who cross the Tongwen flag will be killed!"

"Accepting the order of Yu Chaidian, all the warriors bravely kill the thieves, and those who turn their backs to the enemy will be punished!"

Verbal orders seemed to have no effect, and there were still some timid Ashgaru warriors who wanted to cross the five-san paulownia flag and attack the two reserve teams that were truly marching on the battlefield. The two reserve captains ordered to attack without mercy.

In fact, the five-san paulownia flag in Japanese history is mainly to provide a virtual sense of honor, and there is no decree to kill anyone who crosses the flag, but there is indeed a saying that "those who rush to the battle will be killed".

The reason why the Xiu family proposed "killing those who cross the Wusantong pattern" is to make this decree concrete. After all, you can't reason with the rout soldiers. They really don't necessarily have to go around an illusory "killing those who break the battle". Come here, do you just ignore some people at home who escaped from the side?In the final analysis, the Xiu family just used a trick at the moment.

Regardless of whether this method is easy or not, when the Akikami Hisa family really beheaded the famous samurai Matsui Kumabe of the Tango Hosokawa family, they successfully deterred the pace of deserters.

Matsui Kumai was originally the bannerman of Hosokawa Tadake, and now Hosokawa Tadake is going to escape from the battlefield, and he is responsible for opening the way for Hosokawa Tadake, who would have thought that the Akikami Hisashi family would be so disrespectful, directly in front of Hosokawa Tadake He beheaded his banner warrior and successfully shocked the Tango daimyo.

Kill the chicken and respect the monkey, everyone!On the northern mountain, Hosokawa Tadakashi, who was retreating down the mountain road at the moment, saw the Ukita army crossing the river continuously down the mountain, and the defeated soldiers who were successfully stopped by beheading, and immediately ordered to stop the retreat.

At this moment, the Takayama clan who came to support Asano Nagamasa also began to climb up the mountain road. Seeing Asano Nagamasa who was trying to retreat, he asked in a slightly questionable tone, "Where is Asano-den planning to go?"

Asano Nagamasa was quite embarrassed, feeling as if he had escaped and been caught, but he quickly adjusted his mentality and said, "I see Hosokawa Tadakashi and others retreating, and they are heartbroken and ready to lead people to stop them. After reorganizing the army Then we will have a decisive battle with Chang Zong and our tribe Yuanqin, who wants Master Gao Shan to arrive first."

The Gaoshan soldiers followed his direction and looked down the mountain. Qiu Shangjiu's family had successfully stopped the retreat of the rout, and he let go of his hanging heart. After all, it has been a thankless task to intercept the rout since ancient times , I'm afraid that the defeated soldiers will jump over the wall in a hurry and even kill their own people.

"Since the situation at the foot of the mountain has been brought under control, and the reinforcements from Zuemon Governor Hall have arrived, it is time for me to turn around and kill the enemy!" Asano Nagamasa took advantage of the fact that the Takayama clan hadn't reacted, and immediately turned around to take the reserve team that had just retreated. , walked up the mountain, it seemed that he was preparing to return to the battlefield.

"The reinforcements from Zuoweimen Governor's Palace will be waiting for us. If you don't make meritorious deeds at this time, when will you wait? The reward for killing the enemy is doubled today, and Erlang will kill with me~"

As long as you are not embarrassed yourself, others will not be embarrassed.Regardless of what Asano Nagamasa was thinking about just now, at this moment, Asano Nagamasa only had one thought: "Kill the flower thief! Take the military exploits!"

(End of this chapter)